(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Sunshine Organics in the small Northland town of Maungaturoto is a find that delights me… and talking to the owner I’m becoming more aware of many of the tricks of the trade the supermarkets employ to separate you from more of your hard earned cash than is actually necessary.
One of these tricks is to sell you what would be one of your regular staple bulk products in a little bag. For instance: 500g (1 lb) of rice… or 200g or a cup of nuts.
Supermarkets charge a completely disproportionate price for the small amount when it’s far more cost effective for the customer to buy exactly the same rice or nuts loose from bulk bins.
I watched as the owner was busy getting her bulk bins filled up and since I always manage to find something “arty” in food, the textures and forms of the items intrigued me so I used the zoom lens on my camera to get up close and personal with this foodie textural art.
I also learned that whilst organic products are at the moment more expensive than non-organic, that buying from bulk bins like these gives the customer such a big saving over the supermarket small plastic bag counterparts that the over-all cost is still less for the customer. That tells me a lot about just how big the mark-up is on these items in the supermarket chains.
This is one time that “supersizing” a product (meant in the best sense) and getting away from tiny bags of plastic is a good thing!
Apparently it hasn’t taken long for some in the local community here to figure this out either, and these items are a top seller in the shop. The good thing is too, that turnover is quick so you are constantly getting fresh stock. I love the shapes and textures that these make… let’s look at my impromptu Bulk Bin Art Exhibition!
Basmati Brown Rice…
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Dried Banana !…
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Quick Cook Rolled Oats…
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
I agree with you – that is totally beautiful food. I’m always stunned at the price difference – especially when the store has the nerve to have the bagged version right NEXT to the bins. I have to admit, I also like scooping my own, for me it’s the sounds.
Comment by Little Sis — July 6, 2012 @ 1:15 am |
Even in the general vegetable section of the supermarket it’s usually cheaper to put loose carrots from the heap into a bag yourself than it is to get the same weight of carrots pre-bagged.
The supermarkets are banking on the fact that many people don’t notice this and if they do they are either too lazy or in too much of a hurry to do it themselves, preferring to just grab those pre-bagged carrots, potatoes, apples, oranges etc and pay more.
Even worse people think they are getting a great deal in the supermarket by getting a bunch of spring onions for 60 cents, marked down from say, 73 cents. Any large veggie market trader will laugh and tell you that THEIR regular price is five bunches for a dollar or a Euro!
Supermarkets ARE convienient but you can bet your bottom dollar you are being fleeced.
Comment by kiwidutch — July 6, 2012 @ 4:57 am |